Adjustable french curve



Jan. 24, 1967 J. E. TOTH 3,299,519

ADJUSTABLE FRENCH CURVE Filed April 30, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOHN E. TOTH BY FULWIDER, PATTON, RIEBER, LEE & UTECHT Jan. J, E TOTH ADJUSTABLE FRENCH CURVE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 30, 1965 INVENTOR. JOHN ETOTH BY FULWlDER, PATTON, RIEBER, LEE & UTECHT United States, Patent o 3,299,519 ADJUSTABLE FRENCH CURVE John E. Toth, 5812 Henley Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92120 Filed Apr. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 452,224 8 Claims. (Cl. 33177) The present invention relates to an adjustable curve template for drawing or scribing curved lines.

The template of the present invention is formed by a sheet of flexible and resilient material such as a plastic having high flexural memory and preferably the plastic is transparent. The sheet is cut to form an elongated base section and outwardly extending, opposite end sections. A cantilever beam is formed integrally with one of the end sections and extends toward the other end section. The latter mentioned end section is provided with an edge having notches, the mouths of which confront the free end of the beam; any one of which notches can receive the free end of the beam.

Preferably the sheet is formed of constant thickness and the beam tapers to a smaller depth toward the free end thereof. Also the base section tapers to smaller depths from that end section thereof, from which the beam extends, to that end section having the notches, and preferably the edge of the base section which confronts the edge of the beam is elliptical in shape.

Other features and the advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are front views of a set of three templates; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the template shown in FIG. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, the template is shown at it includes four main sections, to Wit, the elongated base section 12, left end section 14 opposite right end section 16 and cantilever beam 18.

The template 10 is formed of flexible and resilient material such as a sheet of plastic having high flexural memory; it is preferably transparent. The end sections 14 and 16 extend outwardly, i.e., upwardly from the base 12. The cantilever beam 18 is formed integrally with and extends laterally from the left end section 14 and toward the right end section 16. The upper edge 20 of the base which confronts the lower edge 22 of the cantilever beam 18 is elliptical in shape and these edges merge in curved formation as shown at 24.

The cantilever beam 18 progressively increases in flexibility from the curve 24 toward the free end 26 thereof. One manner of accomplishing this is as illustrated, i.e., by forming the sheet of constant thickness and by tapering the beam progressively to smaller depths from the curve 24 to the free end thereof.

The edge 28 of the right section which confronts the curve 24 is provided with a series of notches 30 and 36, inclusive. Each is adapted to receive the free end 26 of beam 18. The free end 26 is shown, in dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 4, in notches 36 and 32, respectively. It is to be observed that the arcuation increases progressively as the beam is bent toward the base 12 whereby various curves can be traced by following the upper side of the beam and various curves can also be traced by following the underside of the beam. Preferably the edge 28 having the notches is curved whereby the 3 ,299,5 1 9 -Patente' dfilarli '24,

inner ends of the notches complement the path of movement of the right end 26 of the beam 18. i

The upper edge 20 of the base section 12 is elliptical in shape with a curvature slightly greater than that which is generated when the end 26 of the beam is in the lowermost notch 36, thus extending the usefulness of available curve by a single template. It is to be observed, that the depth of the base and the end sections are sufiicient to prevent adverse flexure while bending strains are on the beam.

A set of three templates, such as that shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is ample for substantially all needs. It will be observed from FIGS. 1 and 2 that when the beam 118 is in its inherently stable position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 2, its curvation substantially simulates that of the curvature of beam 18 of FIGS. 1 and 4 when the latter is latched in notch 36. Also it will be observed that when the beam 218 of FIG. 3 is in its inherently stable position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 3, its curvature substantially simulates that of the curvature of beam 118 when the latter is in its extreme curved position, as shown in dash lines in FIG. 2 wherein the free end 126 is latched in notch 136. a

Thus it is apparent that with the set of three templates, curves can be generated for tracing lines from one extreme, that is from a position in which beam end 26 is latched in notch 30 of the template shown in FIG. 1, to an extreme in which the end 226 of beam 218 of the template shown in FIG. 3 is latched in notch 236 of the latter template, as shown in dash lines in FIG. 3.

Like in FIG. 1, the template show-n in FIG. 2, includes a base section 112, end sections 114 and 116 and notches to 136, inclusive, and, the template 200 in FIG. 3 includes a base section 212, end sections 214 and 216 and notches 230- to 236, inclusive.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described, constitutes preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. An adjustable curve template comprising:

(A) An integral sheet of flexible and resilient material having:

(1) an elongated base section,

(2) outwardly extending opposite end sections,

(3) a cantilever beam extending from one of the end sections toward the other end section,

(4) said other end section having an edge confronting said one of the end sections, said edge having notches for receiving said free end.

2. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, characterize-d in that the beam tapers to smaller depths toward the free end thereof.

3. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the said edge of said other section is curved to complement the path described by the free end of the beam when bent.

4. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the sheet of material is of constant thickness.

5. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the base section tapers to smaller depths from the said one end section toward the said other end section.

6. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the base which confronts the edge of the beam is elliptical in shape.

7. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the .base which con- 3 4- fronts the edge of the beam is elliptical in shape, the References Cited by the Examiner curvation of said confronting edge of the base being NITED E P T slightly greater than that of the beam when the beam is U STAT S ATEN S bent and received by the notch closest to the base. 8651586 9/1907 'i 33 177 8. An adjustable curve template as defined in claim 1, 5 1,789,795 1/1931 Weldman 33-177 characterized in that the edge of the base which con- FOREIGN PATENTS fronts the edge of the :beam is elliptical in shape and that 494,155 3/1930 Germany the confronting edges of the base and beam merge in curve formation. LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE CURVE TEMPLATE COMPRISING: (A) AN INTEGRAL SHEET OF FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT MATERIAL HAVING: (1) AN ELONGATED BASE SECTION, (2) OUTWARDLY EXTENDING OPPOSITE END SECTIONS, (3) A CANTILEVER BEAM EXTENDING FROM ONE OF THE END SECTIONS TOWARD THE OTHER END SECTION, (4) SAID OTHER END SECTION HAVING AN EDGE CONFRONTING SAID ONE OF THE END SECTIONS, SAID EDGE HAVING NOTCHES FOR RECEIVING SAID FREE END. 